Hand calls

2

223

Active member
How many’s call on your lanyard while hunting? Are a couple enough or are more better for different situations?
 
I’m sure in colder weather with calls possibly freezing a couple extra can’t hurt? Just wasn’t sure if too many are more of a hassle. I’m new to hand calls for the most part. Other than many years ago trying to shoot something using one.
 
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I can easily get it done with 1 open reed doing howls/distress/ kiyi's BUT I like being prepared and being a call maker I usually have 2 experimental calls then 8 or so various other stuff. Both in case of freezing and to be able to switch it up and try new things.
In reality I think 3 or 4 is all that's needed.
 
I usually have my go-to prey distress, sometimes a quieter coaxer for calm or close-quarters situations, and a howler. I don't use a howler very much because the rabbit distress just works for me, so sometimes I switch that out for a different one or new one I want to try. More calls equals more clanking around noise and movement dealing with them while on stand for me. Mine are all open reed because I only hunt predators in below freezing weather and closed reed calls tend to freeze up.

Like Yotarunner said, I can make all the sounds with one, but some other options or a backup is good to have. Nothing worse than walking a half mile through the snow just to have one call and it doesn't work properly because it's dirty or something.
 
Yes sir! I totally agree with definitely not wanting my calls clanging and banging. I already make enough noise on my own without adding to it. On the flip side if I’m in the woods and need a back up plan I figure they are better around my neck than laying at the house. lol..
I make my own lanyards so hoping to space things out to avoid the banging and have a howler (which I’m with you I use very little) and maybe 2-3 others.
Thanks again I’m always open to any helpful suggestions!! Lord knows I need all the help I can get. LOL
 
223 said:
Yes sir! I totally agree with definitely not wanting my calls clanging and banging. I already make enough noise on my own without adding to it. On the flip side if I’m in the woods and need a back up plan I figure they are better around my neck than laying at the house. lol..
I make my own lanyards so hoping to space things out to avoid the banging and have a howler (which I’m with you I use very little) and maybe 2-3 others.
Thanks again I’m always open to any helpful suggestions!! Lord knows I need all the help I can get. LOL
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For the clanging sound I just unzip my jacket and tuck em inside for the walk in then before sitting down just unzip and pull them out for easy access.
 
Good points about the potential for banging against each other. I like a four-drop lanyard with one off each side up relatively high. Those will have enough cord to use the call without dragging the lower two far up one's chest. The lower two drops should be different lengths so the two lower calls don't beat against each other. Unlike my friends up north, there are times here when one doesn't need a jacket!

ETA: I always wear my AGC chest rig (aka my Snuggle Buddy). I've wondered about attaching calls directly to it - one off each shoulder strap and two off the main bino compartment. Then I wouldn't need a lanyard and I wouldn't have to figure out to drape the lower two drops over/around the Snuggle Buddy. Any of you lanyard makers have an idea for that?
 
My lanyards have loops that are just one long string with a loop on both ends, they slide thru the main lanyard back and forth so I can pull a call out and have plenty of string to use but it pulls the other call tight to the main lanyard…. If that makes sense. Came up with that years ago, its simple and it works pretty good.
 
So some ideas, a shotgun shell card like setup with Velcro backing to attach to bino packs, with elastic shell loops to hold calls in.
Also if you do a search here, you’ll find a lanyard that several guys did but I think Tebbe had built the first one of, elastic loops on a neck lanyard that holds a bunch of calls. A little funky but it may give yall some other ideas.
 
DesertRam said:
I've wondered about attaching calls directly to it - one off each shoulder strap and two off the main bino compartment. Then I wouldn't need a lanyard and I wouldn't have to figure out to drape the lower two drops over/around the Snuggle Buddy. Any of you lanyard makers have an idea for that?
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Might try this, Troy, I always carry a hand call or three in conjunction w/my Foxpro. I use a couple of female snaps, one on each harness strap for my binocular pack to attach the calls. The male half of snap is attached to a short piece of nylon strap (yes, these are Republican snaps; only two genders as opposed to Democrat snaps.l 🤣 ) The call remote is also tethered to the binocular pack as well. This allows changing out from one favorite call to another.
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The Foxpro remote is also tethered to harness and fits in outer pocket of bino pack.
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Spare calls are attached to snaps on the gun rack in my pickup if needed.
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Great ideas for managing calls - thanks guys. I'll have to implement some of them.

I typically try to tuck calls behind my bino pack or coat but they seem to pop out. I guess I haven't tried very hard to remedy that situation... yet!
 
I have another question in regards to hand calling. Let’s start with I’m new to hand calling in general.
Coyotes will typically get down wind of the sound on the approach so do you guys somewhat face down wind when hand calling?
I’m mostly hand calling in timber with a shotgun so it’s close range business. Lol
When running an ecall I put my call upwind 50-60 yards and face into the wind as should be and try to get set up for basically a more cross wind shot if this makes sense?
Just curious the approach that others take with hand calls and close range shots.
 
I still set up looking up or crosswind since I set the stand with the most likely approach from those directions. However, If the terrain allows for them to circle, I try to set up in such a way that I can see downwind. My hand call sets are often in thick brush with a shotgun, so I'm hoping for the hard chargers rather than the sneaky circlers. I couldn't kill one of those sneaky buggers at 100 yards downwind with a shotgun anyway. Now, if I have a partner, I'll set up to see the upwind close and him to see the downwind a little farther with a rifle.
 
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